Get a close up look at what ministering looks like in this inspiring true story about Pam Woods who, while recovering from surgery, receives every kind of ministering imaginable. Each one being simple yet thoughtful in their very own way.
A friend of mine, Pam Woods, recently had to have some surgery which caused her to be homebound for a period of time. She wrote the most uplifting Facebook post regarding the ministering that she received during her time of healing. With her permission, I share with you her inspiring thoughts on Ministering in Action.
Pam Woods:
For years, I felt I was a pretty good visiting teacher, not perfect, but at least adequate. But as soon as the Ministering program was introduced, I found myself struggling. I thought I just needed the structure Visiting Teaching gave me.
Earlier this summer I had multiple surgeries on my left foot and have spent many weeks in a bed and a wheelchair. Four weeks into my recovery, my back started going out, and many weeks later I’m still struggling with my back and foot. I am now just starting to put pressure on my foot and walk a little with the aid of a walker, but I am also trying to return to work. My biggest fears right now are how long is it going to take for me to work a full day in the office, be able to grocery shop again, or stand in the kitchen to make a meal after working all day?….things that should be simple everyday tasks. But I will tell you what I have learned through this long trial of mine. I now know what ministering looks like!
It looks like weeks of meals brought to my door. It looks like someone listening to the Spirit the day my husband was out of town and I needed to get to the doctor. It’s leaving work right away and showing up to help me bathe, get me dressed, and taking me to the doctor, and then treating me to Sodalicious and a drive across the river for some new scenery. It’s a sister and niece bringing my little great- nieces to cuddle. It’s a “to keep you busy basket” full of fun things. It’s someone buying a new book for me that they just read and loved, hoping I would love it too. It’s bringing me snacks for my bedside fridge, and then bringing me lunch to share while visiting on your lunch break. It’s bringing potato salad on July 4th before you left town because you know how much I love your recipe. It’s texts of: “I’m heading to Walmart! Need anything?” Or “I’m checking in to see if I can do anything for you.” Or “Can we bring the kids by to sing you some songs and bring you some cookies?” Or “I don’t know you very well, but I’ve missed seeing you at church and I just heard about your surgery”….which ended some loneliness and started in a new friendship over the phone.
It’s grand babies coming to cuddle while their parents cooked, cleaned, shopped and organized. It’s buying me your favorite comfortable pillow. It’s a loaf of bread and homemade peach jam. It’s helping me file my AFLAC claim since I don’t have access to a fax machine or scanner. It’s a kind 80+ year old mother doing my grocery shopping weekly and checking in on me often. It’s a husband coming home and kindly picking up all the things I’ve dropped all day that I can’t reach, and who helps me keep my sense of humor, and who makes sure I’m always safe. It’s my son and his girlfriend surprising me with waffles. It’s you making a date with your husband to go to Walmart shopping for me after your kids are in bed. It’s many good visits next to my bedside while you sat in my wheelchair. It’s priesthood blessings. It’s prayers on my behalf. It’s a bouquet of flowers from family too far away to assist. It’s cards in the mail with well wishes. It’s picking up my prescriptions at Walmart. It’s coworkers keeping my boss afloat and helping me maintain a job. It’s a friend breaking me out of the house to attend a 50th birthday party for a 20+ year old dear friendship, during a torrential downpour, the only one of the season….what an adventure! It’s a sweet message from a newly widowed relative, offering to take me for a drive, just a couple of weeks after I missed her husband’s funeral. It’s hugs, and words of encouragement, and kindness. And it’s so much more. I hope when I am able to have a ministering calling again, that my ministering to others will be much more meaningful. You have all taught me A LOT!
Ministering does not need to be hard or overwhelming, on the contrary, it is the simple acts of kindness that make ministering the most effective. May we each ask ourselves, what can I do to put Ministering into Action today?
Also, be sure and check out A Heart Like His. Charity is more than acts of kindness, it should become a part of who you are. Learn more by clicking HERE. Includes a beautiful PDF download.
Yours Truly,
P.S. For more inspiring gospel related resources, be sure and sign up for my monthly Finding JOY Newsletter. Helping you be the most effective teacher you can be at home and in your calling.
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